Spray nozzle

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is directed to a spray nozzle device of the general type in which liquid or air, or a combination thereof, from a source under superatmospheric pressure, are supplied to the nozzle and discharged therefrom to an area of application under the direction and control of an operator. The nozzle of the device has an internal duct arrangement by which liquid agents, such as paint, liquid detergent, insecticide, and the like, which are to be applied to an area, are drawn from a container by the Venturi effect produced by the liquid or air from the source during its passing through the nozzle. A manually operable valve is connected between the nozzle and container and is adjustable by progressive uninterrupted minute increments of change in the effective size of the valve opening for controlling the education of the liquid agent from the container. The sizes and relative positions, and nature of the ducts are such as to greatly increase the efficiency of eduction of the agent, and the mixture and application of the liquid and agent, and to control more precisely the rate of eduction of the agent for a given selected supply of liquid, over a much wider range than heretofore obtained. A flaring discharge passage in the nozzle and a perforated shield are arranged for causing the mixture of liquid and agent to discharge as divergent individual small jet streams and as a single concentrated stream, selectively.

Unite States tent [72] Inventor Robert W. Hengesbach 7886 Munson Road,Mentor, Ohio 44060 [21] Appl. No. 723,377

[22] Filed Apr. 23, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [54] SPRAY NOZZLE 2Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 239/318, 239/354, 239/416.1 [51] Int. Cl B05b 7/30 [50]Field ofSearch 239/318,

310, 4l3,4l6.l, 417.5, 419, 419.3, 422, 426, 427, 427.3, 427.5, 428,433, 434, 391, 354, 390

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,036,871 8/1912 Matheson239/4273 X 2,310,633 2/1943 Heimburger 239/4275 X 2,366,969 1/1945Kiggins 239/433 2,965,309 12/1960 Parrott 239/426 X Primary ExaminerM.Henson Wood, .lr. Assistant Examiner-John J. Love Att0rney.lohn HarrowLeonard ABSTRACT: This disclosure is directed to a spray nozzle deviceof the general type in which liquid or air, or a combination thereof,from a source under superatmospheric pressure, are supplied to thenozzle and discharged therefrom to an area of application under thedirection and control of an operator. The nozzle of the device has aninternal duct arrangement by which liquid agents, such as paint, liquiddetergent, insecticide, and the like, which are to be applied to anarea, are drawn from a container by the Venturi effect produced by theliquid or air from the source during its passing through the nozzle. Amanually operable valve is connected between the nozzle and containerand is adjustable by progressive uninterrupted minute increments ofchange in the effective size of the valve opening for controlling theeducation of the liquid agent from the container.

The sizes and relative positions, and nature of the ducts are such as togreatly increase the efficiency of eduction of the agent, and themixture and application of the liquid and agent, and to control moreprecisely the rate of eduction of the agent for a given selected supplyof liquid, over a much wider range than heretofore obtained.

A flaring discharge passage in the nozzle and a perforated shield arearranged for causing the mixture of liquid and agent to discharge asdivergent individual small jet streams and as a single concentratedstream, selectively.

SPRAY NOZZLE This invention relates to a spray nozzle device of thegeneral type in which water or air fed to the nozzle from a source underpressure and discharged from the nozzle inducts liquid detergent, paint,insecticide, or other agent from a container, in which it is subject toatmospheric pressure, so that the agent becomes mixed with the stream ofwater or air discharged by the nozzle and is carried thereby to an areaof application.

For the purposes of illustration, the nozzle device is illustrated asthe type which is held in the hand of the operator and manipulated byhim so as to direct the discharged mixture to the selected area ofapplication.

The principal feature of the invention resides in the arrangement ofducts within the nozzle so that the agent is educed from the container,mixed with the fluid from the pressurized source passing through thenozzle, and discharged to areas of application, more precisely andefficiently, and in the means cooperable with the ducts by which therate of eduction of liquid agent from the container for a given supplyof fluid under pressure from the source to the nozzle can be controlledmore precisely and over a much wider range than is possible with knowndevices of this general character.

Other advantages of the invention result from the arrangement of thedischarge passage of the nozzle, and in the provision of a shield usedtherewith by which the pattern or discharged fluid can be converted froma plurality of divergent individual spray jets to a very concentratedsingle stream.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description wherein reference is made to the drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly is section, of a spray nozzle deviceillustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of part of thespray nozzle of the device, and is taken on the line 22 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of theright-hand or discharge end of the nozzle illustrated in FIG. 1, showinga different position of the pattern control shield.

Referring to the drawings, a spray nozzle, indicated generally at 1,comprises a body 2 having at one end an internally threaded bore 3 bywhich it is to be connected, as hereinafter described, through suitablecontrol means, to a source of water or air, or both, under pressure.

Within the body 2 are an inlet duct 4 and a discharge duct 5. The ducts4 and 5 are linear, circular in cross section, and coaxial with eachother and are connected in end to end relation. The inlet duct 4 is ofsmaller diameter than the discharge duct 5 and an annular substantiallyplanar shoulder 6 extends from the outer periphery of the outlet end ofthe inlet duct 4 to the outer periphery of the inlet of the dischargeduct 5. The shoulder 6 is preferably coaxial with the ducts and normalto the axis thereof. An eduction duct 7 is provided in the body 2 andextends radially thereof, transversely of the duct 5, and is arrangedwith its outlet 8 wholly within the duct 5 at the inlet end thereof. Theoutlet 8 of the duct 7 preferably is closely adjacent to, or juxtaposedagainst, the shoulder 6 and is of smaller diameter than the outlet ofthe duct 4. The periphery of the outlet 8 should be arranged so that thepoint thereon which is nearest to the shoulder 6 is at least as close tothe shoulder 6 as the length of the radius of the outlet 8. The duct 7preferably has its axis arranged at 90 to the axis of the duct 5, and,as mentioned, so that its outlet 8 discharges totally into the duct 5.

The body 2 is provided with an internally threaded bore 9, which iscoaxial with the duct 7, which receives a fitting or nipple 10 which, inturn, is connected to an eduction control valve 11. The valve 11comprises a body 12 having a duct 13 extending therethrough. Theeffective size of the duct 13 is controlled by a valve plug 14 which ismoved to advanced or retracted positions, selectively, by a threadedstem 15. This valve is used in preference to valves of the multiorificetype in which each of a number of separate orifices of different sizesare shifted stepwise selectively into position for permitting thepassage of predetermined amounts of liquid through the duct 13. With thepresent valve, the rate of eduction, and the effective size of the duct13 insofar as concerns the flow of liquid therethrough, can be changedby uninterrupted progressive minute increments rather than in a stepwisemanner. The valve 11, in turn, is connected to a fitting 16 which issecured in the neck of a container 17 in which liquid agent to be mixedwith the air or water passing through the nozzle is contained. Thefitting 16 has a bleeder duct 18 so that the liquid agent, indicated atA, within the container is exposed on its surface to atmosphericpressure.

An eduction tube 19 which forms a continuation of the duct 7, isconnected thereto through the duct 13 of the valve 11 and extends intothe container so that its inlet end 20 is below the level of the liquidagent in the container.

As mentioned, water or air, or both, can be fed or supplied from thesource under superatrnospheric pressure to the inlet duct 4 from whichit passes into the discharge duct 5, thereby creating a partial vacuumor Venturi effect at the outlet 8 of the duct 7. This Venturi effect isused to educt the liquid agent from the container 17 and introduce itinto the stream of air or water or both which is being supplied undersuperatmospheric pressure through the duct 4. In view of the type ofvalve employed and the relation of the ducts, as will hereinafter bedescribed, a very effective control of the rate of discharge of theagent from the container over an extremely wide range is provided.

At its outlet end, the nozzle is provided with a frustoconical dischargepassage 21 disposed in coaxial relation to the duct 5 and with itssmaller base in communication with the outlet end of the discharge duct5. The frustoconical passage provides a more unifonn pattern of theliquid contents being discharged by the nozzle.

Further control of the pattern is required for various purposes. Forthis purpose, a pattern control shield 23 may be provided over theoutlet end of the passage 21. The shield 23 is mounted in an internallythreaded collar 25 which is in threaded engagement with the threaded endof the nozzle body 2 and secures the shield 23 in firm fitting relationagainst the periphery of the outer end of the passage 21. The shield 23has a concave-convex wall portion in which are a plurality of passagesor orifices 24a, these orifices being distributed evenly over theconcavo-convex wall portion. Suitable gaskets 26 are provided atopposite faces of the shield 23.

It is to be noted that the shield 23 is disposed between, in spacedrelation to the ends of the collar 25 and that opposite end portions ofthe collar at opposite sides of the shield are so threaded that eitherend portion can be screwed onto the end of the nozzle. Thus, the shieldcan be disposed with the convex face toward the passage 21 or with theconcave face toward the passage 21. With the convex face toward thepassage 21 the individual jets issuing from the orifices of the shieldare directed into convergent relation so that they form a centralconcentrated stream which discharges axially of the nozzle as a singlesolid stream. With the concave side toward the nozzle, the jets issuingfrom the orifices 25a retain their individual identity and are divergentfrom each other so as to provide a well-defined spreading pattern.

As mentioned, means are provided for supplying water under pressure orair under pressure, or a combination thereof, are supplied into theinlet end of the duct 4 of the nozzle 1.

Since at times it may be desirable that the spray nozzle by suppliedonly with water, at other times only with air, and at still other timeswith a combination thereof, the supply means is made in two units whichcan be assembled for cojoint or individual use. The water supply unit isindicated at 30 and the air supply and mixing unit is indicated at 31.The water supply unit comprises a body 32, having a portion 33 which isinternally threaded for threaded engagement with the threaded ferrule 34of a water or other liquid hose H through which liquid under pressure issupplied from a suitable source.

Within the body 32 is a valve 35 operated by an external handle 36, thevalve being such that when open it permits the liquid entering from thehose 34 to pass through a discharge passage 37 in the body 32. The bodyhas an externally threaded portion 38 by which it can be coupled to aninternally threaded collar 39 which is rotatably mounted on a fitting40. The fitting 40 can be screwed directly into the threaded bore 3 ofthe spray nozzle body 2, or if desired, into an internally threaded bore41 in the air and mixing unit.

The unit 31 comprises a body 44 having a through passage 45 which iscoaxial with the passage 37 of the unit 30 and connected thereto. Thebody 44 has an externally threaded portion 46 at its discharge end whichis adapted for threaded engagement with the internally threaded bore 3of the spray nozzle 1, so as to discharge into the spray nozzle incoaxial relation to the duct 4. The body 44 also has an air passage 47which is arranged to converge with, and discharge at a very slight angleinto the passage 45. The passage 47 should be as nearly tangent asfeasible to provide efficient mixture of the air being supplied throughthe passage 47 and the water being supplied through the passage 45. Thepassage 47 is connected by a lateral passage 48 to a hose 49 which, inturn, is connected to a source of air or gas under pressure. A controlvalve 50 may be provided in the lateral passage 48, if desired, forcontrolling the supply of air. Thus, either water or air, liquid or gas,or a combination thereof, in selected proportions, can be provided andsupplied through the units 30 and 31 to the inlet end of the duct 4.

For reasons not fully understood, the duct and valve arrangementdescribed produces unusually outstanding results. The ratio of thediameter of the inlet duct 4 to the outlet duct ranges from a ratio ofabout 1 to 1.] inches to a ratio of about 1 to l.l5 inches gives veryoutstanding results. Specifically, the best results appear to resultwhen the inlet duct 4 is about 0.125 inches in diameter and the outletduct 5 is from about 1.40 1.42 inches in diameter. The duct 7, ofcourse, is smaller in diameter than the inlet duct 4. With thisarrangement of ducts, with the valve 11 which can be adjusted at suchsmall increments, without admimion of air under pressure, and with theunit 30 supplying the full volume of water from a conventional householdhose spigot, the eduction of the liquid agent from the container 17 canbe regulated by the valve 11 so as to discharge about a pint of agent ata rate such that the total can be discharged in as short a time as 15seconds and upwardly to an extended period of to minutes, and at alldesired rates therebetween, thus providing extremely wide flexibility inproportioning the water and agent. For example, for insecticides whichare very powerful and should be used only in extremely minute quantitiesrelative to the amount of water, or liquid supplied as a carrier, it isapparent that with the water on at full force and with the amount of theinsecticide discharging over a period of it) to 15 minutes, only aminute amount of insecticide is provided for each cubic inch of water.On the other hand, with paints and the like, or some detergents thathave to be forced at high velocity against a surface, one may arrange todischarge the detergent in a very concentrated form by controlling thevalve so that it discharges the entire amount in a few seconds.

By providing means for supplying both water under pressure and air underpressure, the device is rendered adaptable for a wide range of uses,both which could readily occur in the field of operation of a singleoperator. Generally, in high pressure cleaning of automobiles, forexample, a high concentration of detergent and the water is employed.The water is used at full force. Often, however, this is not forcefulenough to knock off accumulated matter such as that under fenders andthe like. Hence, the velocity of discharge of the liquid carrier andagent may be increased by the introduction of air along with the waterinto the nozzle. Again, it may be that a spray of paint to be applied toa surface, in which case air would be used as the carrier. Again, for aforceful stream, the shield 23 may be turned with its convex sideexposed toward the passage 21, in which case the greatest concentration,regardless of the type of stream, is supplied by the nozzle. On theother hand, by placing the concave side of a shield toward the spraynozzle, various degrees of diffusion and spread in the pattern of thedischarged liquid can be obtained for rinsing and the like.

it is apparent that with these adjustments described, a very largenumber of combinations are possible, with the likelihood that one oranother will be found most suitable for a particular application.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim: 1. A spray nozzle devicecomprising a body having an inlet duct, a discharge duct, and aneduction duct;

said ducts being of circular cross section and the inlet duct anddischarge duct being in coaxial end to end communication with eachother; said eduction duct extending transversely of the discharge ductand having an outlet opening wholly into the discharge duct at thejuncture of the inlet and discharge ducts; said inlet duct being of lessdiameter than the discharge duct and the eduction duct being of lessdiameter than the inlet duct; the portion of the periphery of theeduction duct outlet closest to said juncture being close to saidjuncture; said body being arranged to exclude induction of fluidthereinto other than through said eduction duct; liquid control meansfor connecting the inlet duct of the body to a source of fluid undersuperatmospheric pressure and including a manually settable liquid flowadjusting valve operable to adjust the flow of liquid to the inlet ductin progressive uninterrupted minute increments and decrements,selectively; gaseous media control means for connecting the inlet ductof the body to a source of pressurized gaseous media and including amanually settable gaseous flow adjusting valve operable to adjust theflow of pressurized gaseous media to the inlet duct in progressiveuninterrupted minute increments and decrements, selectively; eductioncontrol means for connecting the inlet of the eduction duct to acontainer for liquid agent which is to be educted from the container,and including a manually settable eduction adjusting valve in advance ofthe outlet of the eduction duct and operable to adjust the flow agentfrom the container into the discharge duct in progressive uninterruptedminute increments and decrements, selectively; and said valves beingoperable independently of each other; characterized in that: saidgaseous media control means include an intermediate body having athrough duct for conducting liquid from the liquid control means to theinlet duct, and having a gaseous media duct to receive gaseous mediaunder pressure from a source and discharge the gaseous media into theliquid in the through duct in advance of the discharge duct; and saidducts in the intermediate body converge with each other at a small anglein the direction of flow through the intermediate body toward the outletduct. 2. A spray nozzle device comprising a body having an inlet duct, adischarge duct, and an eduction duct;

said ducts being of circular cross section and the inlet duct anddischarge duct being in coaxiai end to end communication with eachother; said eduction duct extending transversely of the discharge ductand having an outlet opening wholly into the discharge duct at thejuncture of the inlet and discharge ducts; said inlet duct being of lessdiameter than the discharge duct and the eduction duct being of lessdiameter than the inlet duct; the portion of the periphery of theeduction duct outlet closest to said junction being close to saidjuncture; said body being arranged to exclude induction of fluidthereinto other than through said eduction duct;

liquid control means for connecting the inlet duct of the body to asource of fluid under superatmospheric pressure and including a manuallysettable liquid flow adjusting valve operable to adjust the flow ofliquid to the inlet duct in progressive uninterrupted minute incrementsand decrements, selectively;

gaseous media control means for connecting the inlet duct of the body toa source of pressurized gaseous media and including a manually settablegaseous flow adjusting valve operable to adjust the flow of pressurizedgaseous media to the inlet duct in progressive uninterrupted minuteincrements and decrements, selectively;

eduction control means for connecting the inlet of the eduction duct toa container for liquid agent which is to be educted from the container,and including a manually settable eduction adjusting valve in advance ofthe outlet of the eduction duct and operable to adjust the flow agentfrom the container into the discharge duct in progressive uninterruptedminute increments and decrements, selectively; and

said valves being operable independent of each other;

characterized in that;

said body comprises three separate and distinct body units;

one unit comprises a liquid supply body unit having a liquid supply ductportion, and said liquid flow adjusting valve is connected to andcarried by the liquid supply body unit;

a second unit comprises a gaseous media supply body unit having a liquidsupply duct portion and a gaseous media supply duct having its outletopening into the liquid supply duct portion;

said gaseous media flow-adjusting valve is connected to and carried bythe gaseous media supply body unit;

a third unit comprises an eduction supply body unit in which said inletand discharge units and eduction duct are located;

said eduction adjusting valve is connected to and carried by theeduction supply body unit;

connecting means are provided on said units, respectively, whichdetachably connect them together with the liquid supply duct portion ofsaid one unit connected at its outlet end with the inlet of the liquidsupply duct portion of the second unit, and with the liquid supply ductportion of the second unit connected at its outlet end with said inletpassage; and

said connecting means on the one unit and third unit are operable todetachably connect said one and third units directly together in theabsence of the second unit with the liquid supply duct portion of saidone unit connected at its outlet to said inlet duct of the third unit.

iJNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N3,632,046 Dated Januarv 4. 1972 Inventor(s) Robert W. Hengesbach It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Abstract, line l L, for "education" read --eduction--. Col. 2, line 43,for "24a" read --25a.--.

Col. 2, line 6 4, for "by" read -be-.

C01. 3, line 36, for "lJ-l-O 1.142Y read -l. LO t0 l. +2-.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of June 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I LFLETCHER,JR ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Qfficer Commissionerof Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 w u.s, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I9690-366-334 ORM PO-1OSO (10-69)

1. A spray nozzle device comprising a body having an inlet duct, adischarge duct, and an eduction duct; said ducts being of circular crosssection and the inlet duct and discharge duct being in coaxial end toend communication with each other; said eduction duct extendingtransversely of the discharge duct and having an outlet opening whollyinto the discharge duct at the juncture of the inlet and dischargeducts; said inlet duct being of less diAmeter than the discharge ductand the eduction duct being of less diameter than the inlet duct; theportion of the periphery of the eduction duct outlet closest to saidjuncture being close to said juncture; said body being arranged toexclude induction of fluid thereinto other than through said eductionduct; liquid control means for connecting the inlet duct of the body toa source of fluid under superatmospheric pressure and including amanually settable liquid flow adjusting valve operable to adjust theflow of liquid to the inlet duct in progressive uninterrupted minuteincrements and decrements, selectively; gaseous media control means forconnecting the inlet duct of the body to a source of pressurized gaseousmedia and including a manually settable gaseous flow adjusting valveoperable to adjust the flow of pressurized gaseous media to the inletduct in progressive uninterrupted minute increments and decrements,selectively; eduction control means for connecting the inlet of theeduction duct to a container for liquid agent which is to be eductedfrom the container, and including a manually settable eduction adjustingvalve in advance of the outlet of the eduction duct and operable toadjust the flow agent from the container into the discharge duct inprogressive uninterrupted minute increments and decrements, selectively;and said valves being operable independently of each other;characterized in that: said gaseous media control means include anintermediate body having a through duct for conducting liquid from theliquid control means to the inlet duct, and having a gaseous media ductto receive gaseous media under pressure from a source and discharge thegaseous media into the liquid in the through duct in advance of thedischarge duct; and said ducts in the intermediate body converge witheach other at a small angle in the direction of flow through theintermediate body toward the outlet duct.
 2. A spray nozzle devicecomprising a body having an inlet duct, a discharge duct, and aneduction duct; said ducts being of circular cross section and the inletduct and discharge duct being in coaxial end to end communication witheach other; said eduction duct extending transversely of the dischargeduct and having an outlet opening wholly into the discharge duct at thejuncture of the inlet and discharge ducts; said inlet duct being of lessdiameter than the discharge duct and the eduction duct being of lessdiameter than the inlet duct; the portion of the periphery of theeduction duct outlet closest to said junction being close to saidjuncture; said body being arranged to exclude induction of fluidthereinto other than through said eduction duct; liquid control meansfor connecting the inlet duct of the body to a source of fluid undersuperatmospheric pressure and including a manually settable liquid flowadjusting valve operable to adjust the flow of liquid to the inlet ductin progressive uninterrupted minute increments and decrements,selectively; gaseous media control means for connecting the inlet ductof the body to a source of pressurized gaseous media and including amanually settable gaseous flow adjusting valve operable to adjust theflow of pressurized gaseous media to the inlet duct in progressiveuninterrupted minute increments and decrements, selectively; eductioncontrol means for connecting the inlet of the eduction duct to acontainer for liquid agent which is to be educted from the container,and including a manually settable eduction adjusting valve in advance ofthe outlet of the eduction duct and operable to adjust the flow agentfrom the container into the discharge duct in progressive uninterruptedminute increments and decrements, selectively; and said valves beingoperable independent of each other; characterized in that: said bodycomprises three separate and distinct body units; one unit comprises aliquid supply body unit having a Liquid supply duct portion, and saidliquid flow adjusting valve is connected to and carried by the liquidsupply body unit; a second unit comprises a gaseous media supply bodyunit having a liquid supply duct portion, and a gaseous media supplyduct having its outlet opening into the liquid supply duct portion; saidgaseous media flow-adjusting valve is connected to and carried by thegaseous media supply body unit; a third unit comprises an eductionsupply body unit in which said inlet and discharge units and eductionduct are located; said eduction adjusting valve is connected to andcarried by the eduction supply body unit; connecting means are providedon said units, respectively, which detachably connect them together withthe liquid supply duct portion of said one unit connected at its outletend with the inlet of the liquid supply duct portion of the second unit,and with the liquid supply duct portion of the second unit connected atits outlet end with said inlet passage; and said connecting means on theone unit and third unit are operable to detachably connect said one andthird units directly together in the absence of the second unit with theliquid supply duct portion of said one unit connected at its outlet tosaid inlet duct of the third unit.